Valley Preferred Cycling Center

VPCC
Lehigh Valley Velodrome
The Velodrome

The Velodrome, March 2014
Full name The Valley Preferred Cycling Center
Location 1151 Mosser Rd, Breinigsville, PA 18031
Coordinates 40°32′52″N 75°36′38″W / 40.547689°N 75.610482°W / 40.547689; -75.610482Coordinates: 40°32′52″N 75°36′38″W / 40.547689°N 75.610482°W / 40.547689; -75.610482
Operator Velodrome Fund., Inc (501(c)(3))[1]
Capacity 2,500
Field size 333 m or 1,093 ft track
Surface Concrete with an asphalt apron
Construction
Broke ground 1974 (1974)
Opened August 1975 (1975-August)
Expanded 1995 (1995)
Tenants
  • Lehigh Valley Cricket Club
  • T-Town Elite
  • Individual Olympic cyclists
Website
www.thevelodrome.com

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center (VPCC), also known as the Lehigh Valley Velodrome or simply T-Town, is a professional cycling center and a velodrome located in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania. It serves as the Lehigh Valley's main track cycling stadium. The velodrome is operated by a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization Velodrome Fund., Inc[1] that promotes competitive cycling, youth fitness, and adult wellness activities for the Lehigh Valley. Over the years, the velodrome hosted various cycling championships. VPCC is the home of the World Series of Bicycling. The Velodrome annually hosts the USA Cycling Elite Nationals qualifying event. The center also features a Cycling Hall of Fame. Over the past 40 years, the center introduced tens of thousands of people to cycling, producing over 140 national champions, seven world champions, and three Olympic medalist.[2] Marty Nothstein, a three-time world champion in track events and an Olympic gold and silver medalist, is currently executive director of Valley Preferred Cycling Center.[3]

History

T-Town Elite cyclists during routine practice.

The velodrome started as an initiative by Robert Rodale, a publisher and an Olympian, in the early 1970s.[4] Rodale became interested in cycling while competing in the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Canada in 1967.[5] In 1974 construction broke ground on the plot of land that was owned by Bob Rodale and his wife, Ardath.[4] The first race was held on October 12, 1975. The Velodrome was originally called the Lehigh County Velodrome or simply T-town (due to its close proximity to Trexlertown). The center underwent a number of renovations which added rest rooms, seats for the fans, a podium, showers, and changing rooms.

In 1995, the center underwent a major $2.5M renovations in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics cycling trials.[6] In 2008, extensive repairs and resurfacing were done to the Velodrome.[7]

In 2007, Valley Preferred Health Network bought the naming rights to the center, and the velodrome's name became Valley Preferred Cycling Center. [8]

In 2008, the town of Breinigsville offered land to expand the center to include a hall of fame.[9] Today, the center is part of a 103-acre Bob Rodale Cycling and Fitness Park.

Competitions

The center hosted various competitions over the years including the UCI Track Cycling World Cup and the UCI Juniors Track World Championships. It's the home of the World Series of Bicycling and the annual USA Cycling Elite Nationals qualifying event. Additionally many other smaller regional, national championships and international competitions also take place. Most recently, the VPCC hosted the 2016 USA Cycling Eilte and Junior National Track Championships.[10]

VPCC offers a variety of free or low-cost community cycling programs designed to introduce the public to the sport of track cycling, including Try the Track, the spring and fall Bicycling Racing League, and Air Products Development Program.

Specifications

The velodrome is outdoor and uncovered. The track is 1093.6 ft (333.3 m) in length with a concrete surface. The track has 30-degree banked turns and 12.5-degree straightaways.[7] At the bottom of the track is an 8 feet (2.4 m) concrete apron. Time trial lines are painted on the track as well.[7]

View of the VPCC track
View of the track

Cycling Hall of Fame

Main seating area.

The Lehigh Valley Velodrome houses a Cycling Hall of Fame.[11] Members of the hall of fame include:

  • Robert Rodale, publisher and Olympic in rifle shooter, founder
  • Ardath Rodale, organizer, wife of Robert Rodale
  • Artie Greenberg, UCI commissar from Pennsylvania
  • Alaric J.F. Gayfer, British National Track Cycling Champion
  • Nelson Saldana, American track cycling Champion
  • Gordon Singleton, Canadian Olympic cyclist
  • Nicole Reinhart, American professional track and road racing cyclist
  • Nelson Vails, American Olympic track cyclist
  • Mary Jane Reoch, Track Cycling World Champion
  • Danny Clark, Australia Olympic track cyclist and road bicycle racer
  • Gil Hatton
  • Jack Simes, Olympian and Olympic coach
  • Dave Chauner, American cyclist
  • Mark Whitehead, American Olympic cyclist
  • Hubert Schleh, Velodrome Organizer
  • Bruce Donaghy, American cyclist[12]
  • Jane Eickhoff, Olympic track cyclist
  • Curtis Harnett, Canadian racing cyclist
  • Shaun Wallace, British Olympic cyclist
  • Paul Pearson, Professional cyclist
  • Jerry Ash, American cyclist
  • Lucy Tyler, Australian Olympic and World Champion cyclist
  • Leigh Barczewski, American Olympic cyclist
  • Karen Bliss, American cyclist
  • Patrick Gellineau, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic cyclist
  • Art McHugh, Professional cyclist

VeloFest

The VeloFest is the largest cycling marketplace in the United States.[13][14] It's held twice a year in May and October on the infield of the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. The flea market features 100s of vendors with 1000s of cycling enthusiasts visiting each year.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Lehigh Valley Velodrome". VolunteerMatch. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Lori (June 17, 2010). "Velodrome Hosts World Series of Bicycling". LVHomeExpert. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  3. ↑ Sieger, Edward (February 10, 2015). "Former Olympian announces candidacy for Lehigh County commissioner". The Express-Times. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "History | Valley Preferred Cycling Center". History | Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "Lehigh Valley Velodrome". Lehigh Valley Marketplace. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  6. ↑ Wogenrich, Mark (June 4, 1996). "U.s. Cycling Trials Open Today * The Lehigh Valley Velodrome Hosts Olympic Hopefuls, Beginning With The Men's Kilometer Time Trial.". The Morning Call. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Keith Eberhardt; Brandon keezer (June 2010). "Valley Preferred Cycling Center—Velodrome Track Repair and Resurfacing" (PDF). Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Valley Preferred buys naming rights to velodrome". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  9. ↑ Darryl R. Isherwood (June 25, 2008). "County offers land for biking hall of fame". The Morning Call. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  10. ↑ "Elite & Juniors Track National Championships". USA Cycling. August 1, 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  11. ↑ Darryl R. Isherwood (June 3, 2008). "Lehigh Valley in running for cycling hall of fame". The Morning Call. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Bruce Donaghy". United States Bicycling Hall of Fame. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Dreier, Fred. "How to Succeed at Bike Swaps". Bicycling Magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  14. ↑ Goldberg, Shelley (May 7, 2011). "Valley Preferred Cycling Center Flea Market". Patch Media. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  15. ↑ "Nation's Largest Cycling Flea Market Returns To T-Town This Saturday". Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
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